Israel wants the region ruled this way. Peace and stability defeat its agenda. Great pains are made to prevent them. Jabari was murdered for that reason. Palestinian divisions and besieging Gaza serve the same purpose.

On November 21, Israel arrested at least 55 Palestinians. Dozens of others followed. Many were Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine members. Victims committed no crimes.

At issue is preventing peace and stability from erupting. Dr. Mahmoud Ramahi was targeted. It wasn’t the first time. He’s both anesthesiologist and politician.

He serves as Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Secretary-General. He belongs to the wrong party. His Change and Reform Bloc works cooperatively with Hamas.

On November 10, 2010, he was arrested at home pre-dawn. Administrative detention uncharged followed. He was targeted for brokering PA/Hamas reconciliation. He also belonged to the wrong party.

On May 10, 2011, his detention was renewed for six months. On November 10, it was renewed for another six months. He was imprisoned until July 4, 2012.

On December 16, 1992, he was first arrested, detained, brutally interrogated for four months, tortured, and imprisoned for 28 months. He was targeted for being affiliated with Hamas. On May 14, 1995, he was released.

On August 20, 2006, he was arrested again. Earlier, his home was raided and ransacked multiple times. Computers, cell phones, and other personal possessions were confiscated. His children’s ID documents were taken.

He was targeted for belonging to the Change and Reform Bloc (CRB). In February 2007, Israel declared it illegal for being affiliated with Hamas.

Other Hamas and CRB officials were also arrested. Their crime was belonging to the wrong party. Extra harshness was imposed for winning PLC seats.

Ramahi was imprisoned for another 28 months. On March 31, 2009, he was released.

On November 25, Haaretz contributor Amira Hass discussed him. Her article headlined “Guilty of the crime of pushing for Palestinian unity.”

Last week Ramahi and other Hamas-affiliated PLC members were arrested. Days earlier, he said all Hamas anti-war West Bank protesters knew they risked arrest.

Ramahi had another cross to bear. He actively pursued Hamas/Fatah reconciliation. Israel arrested him and others involved to prevent it. Doing so warned activists not to try.

Hass spoke to Ramahi earlier. He said:

“Israel and the United States are preventing the PA from reaching reconciliation with Hamas. It’s in Israel’s interest not to prevent this reconciliation.”

“Israelis don’t listen to us. They come to talk to us once we are in prison. They send us people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“Last time I refused. I said that I don’t negotiate when I’m under detention. When I get out we’ll talk, you and I.”

Ramahi is held administratively uncharged. Attorney Fadi Qawasmi represents him. He said he’ll appeal. Other Hamas MPs condemned his arrest and detention.

Israel wants Palestinian resistance and unity subverted, they said. They urged international support and pressure to stop Israel from “killing Palestinian legitimacy.” They also want other detained PLC members released.

Only one is central. His list omitted it. Israel won’t tolerate it. It spurns peace and nonviolence. It’s just a matter of time before conflict again erupts. Palestinian victims will be blamed like always.

“Arab-Islamic culture is strictly authoritarian,” he claims. Saying so is like calling all Israelis and Americans warmongers. Views of ordinary people in all societies often differ vastly from ruling authorities. Perhaps Eidelberg forgot.

Other reasons he cited are hopelessly misguided. Israel is democratic, he claims. It pursues peace. Arab-Islamic cultures are violent. They oppose it.

Jeffersonian democracy defines Israel. “Islam is based on absolutism.”

“(G)enuine and abiding peace between Israel and its Arab-Islamic neighbors is not possible. Those who think otherwise live in denial, or in Alice-in Wonderland.”

“Israel’s ruling elites need a crash course on statecraft, with emphasis on Machiavelli, The Prince.”

The Koran teaches love, not hate; peace, not violence; charity, not selfishness; and tolerance, not terrorism.

Its five pillars include profession of faith, prayer five times daily, fasting during Ramadan, charity, and performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime for those able to afford it.

He also needs tutoring on Zionism. Either its violent ideology escapes him, or he suppresses what he knows.

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

About Stephen

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967.